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Plans unveiled for redesign of LaGuardia Airport in New York

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York, and Joe Biden, vice president of the USA, have unveiled a US$4bn project to fully redesign LaGuardia Airport in New York.

The project will involve unifying the terminal structure by demolishing the existing Terminal B building and replacing it with a larger structure that will join with Delta Air Lines’ terminals C and D. This new layout will help to eliminate the ongoing gate delays and aircraft congestion experienced at the airport. Work is due to commence in early 2016 with an initial completion date of 2019. It is hoped that the project will generate up to 8,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the airport operator, awarded the 35-year design, build and operate (DBO) contract to the LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) consortium in May 2015. The consortium includes airport operator Vantage Airport Group, construction firms Skanska and Walsh Construction, architects HOK and Parsons Brinckerhoff, and a global infrastructure investment fund by Vantage, Skanska and Meridiam. Delta will also carry out a series of improvement works to terminals C and D that will run alongside LGP’s project.

“New York had an aggressive, can-do approach to big infrastructure in the past – and today, we’re moving forward with that attitude once again,” Cuomo said.

“We are transforming LaGuardia into a globally-renowned, 21st century airport that is worthy of the city and state of New York. It’s the perfect metaphor for what we can achieve with the ambition, optimism and energy that made this the Empire State in the first place, and I want to thank our many partners for joining us to build the airport that New York deserves.”

In addition to the unified terminal structure, the Governor’s Airport Master Plan Advisory Panel made a number of other recommendations that will complement the new facility. This includes expanding transportation access with the addition of an AirTrain terminal, improving the passenger experience with new terminal facilities, increasing storm resilience following lessons learned from superstorm Sandy in 2012, and launching initiatives to support the surrounding community.

Ed Bastian, president of Delta Air Lines, said, “Delta commends Governor Cuomo on his airport reconstruction plan, which will transform not only the New York City travel experience but also the landscape of the city itself.

“Delta has invested more than US$2bn in infrastructure upgrades and passenger enhancements at our hubs at LaGuardia and JFK airports, and the initiatives announced today are aligned with our ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional experience for anyone traveling through New York for business or pleasure.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Governor’s design commission on a comprehensive and complementary redevelopment plan that realizes our mutual goals and benefits all New York passengers.”

July 28, 2015

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